Conservative groups rally behind Perry in SD28 race

State Rep. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, is drawing the support of conservative groups ahead of the Sept. 9 special election in Senate District 28.

AUSTIN — State Rep. Charles Perry is quickly consolidating the support of conservative groups in his bid for Senate District 28, aiming to cement his front-runner status ahead of the Sept. 9 special election.

The Lubbock Republican’s campaign announced Thursday that the National Rifle Association has endorsed him, citing his lifetime membership and A+ rating following the last legislative session. A day earlier, the powerful limited-government group Texans for Fiscal Responsibility threw its support behind Perry, praising him for having “effectively used his experience as a CPA to save taxpayers’ money by exposing waste, fraud and abuse in government.” Texas Right to Life, the state’s oldest anti-abortion organization, has also lined up behind Perry.

The endorsements are hardly surprising — many of the same types of groups backed Perry’s bid for the state House in 2010 — but they could make a difference as Perry looks to fend off a well-funded competitor with establishment credentials in Jodey Arrington. The former Texas Tech University System official entered the last five weeks of the race with about $230,800 in the bank compared to Perry’s $287,100, though Perry easily out-raised Arrington for the month.

Arrington, who worked for George W. Bush’s gubernatorial and presidential administrations, has drawn contributions from the onetime commander-in-chief and former U.S. Attorney Alberto Gonzales. The Texas Medical Association has backed him in part due to his work on medical liability reform and rural medicine, and his campaign expects to roll out more endorsements in the coming weeks.

Both candidates went on the air last week in the massive West Texas district, the largest in the state with Lubbock and San Angelo as its two major media markets. Perry’s TV ad focuses on his efforts to fight illegal immigration, while Arrington’s commercial offers a broader view of how his West Texas upbringing shapes his values.

Early voting begins Aug. 25 for the contest, which will determine who succeeds state Sen. Robert Duncan. The Lubbock Republican stepped down earlier this summer to lead the Texas Tech system.